Jerad Bitner and Dave Burns, both of whom are Drupal developers for SonyBMG, recently launched a new site, DrupalMAO. It is a site modeled in part on Diggnation, with a focus on Drupal. Their first pilot was released back in February. Recently the Dave and Jerad were busy at Drupalcon Boston filming and doing interviews. They interviewed me on the last day I was there in the middle of the MIT code sprint. I talk about the future of Acquia’s training and certification programs, and what Acquia’s entry into these markets might mean for companies like Lullabot. I also specifically call out for people to share their thoughts and wishes concerning training and certification. Feel free to share these thoughts with me in comments here, via my contact form, or through the Acquia website.
The interview:
http://drupalmao.com/robert-douglass-interview
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Certification and Community Involvement
Drupal certification
Read every post on this amazingly long thread on the Drupal consultants list three months ago:
http://lists.drupal.org/pipermail/consulting/2007-December/002224.html
(and if you have already, probably do so again)
Eespecially
Eric Goldhagen:
http://lists.drupal.org/pipermail/consulting/2007-December/002232.html
Roshan Shah:
http://lists.drupal.org/pipermail/consulting/2007-December/002246.html
Chris Johnson:
http://lists.drupal.org/pipermail/consulting/2007-December/002248.html
Greg Knaddison
http://lists.drupal.org/pipermail/consulting/2007-December/002261.html
Ashraf Amayreh / Bill Fitzgerald:
http://lists.drupal.org/pipermail/consulting/2007-December/002267.html
What you want to avoid is any possibility that there’s a perception that the certification is a virtual shakedown to prove skills one already has by handing money over. No matter how good you try to make the training aspect, the spectre of “the” certification as something new developers feel compelled to pay for could cause resentment among many… unless contributing back to the community – what so many say should be the true certification – is truly built into the process.
If developers get certification and training and Acquia gets money, just be careful it doesn’t look at all like a monopoly like Microsoft’s certification, or a keep-developer-rates-up tool like the Bar Association is for lawyers.
However, if in addition core gets patches (also high-profile contrib), by professionals, mentored by the best in the business? If that’s part of the certification process, it would shut me up in a hurry, in fact it would make me sign up. This would be more expensive but well worth the money in getting truly complete and proven Drupal experience.
Even for administrators, part of Acquia’s certification should be the completion of, say, three DROP tasks.
That’s more than two cents, and you can keep the change, but I’ll understand if you want to give some back!
benjamin, Agaric Design Collective
Hello
Hi Robert!
I just wanted to say that I had a great time at Drupalcon meeting you. You have been doing amazing things for Drupal and helping lead it towards something for the community. I’m really glad that Acquia picked you up.
This is a really exciting time for Drupal and I’m looking forward to our next meet!
—
Rob Loach
http://www.robloach.net
Thanks Robert
We really enjoyed having you on the show, but next time we get together we’ll have to make sure do have a couple brews!!
Keep up the great work you’re doing!
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